True reader problem: reading speed can’t keep up with buying speed. 😔
@bookazura71924 жыл бұрын
Being Japanese myself, I am so honored and glad that you read and introduce Japanese literatures!! I really enjoy your contents. Thank you😊
@depressedtv4 жыл бұрын
I appreciate the diversity of authors and books you present.
@ree94874 жыл бұрын
I just feel the need to say this, you're my favorite booktuber!
@toastEDmrshmello094 жыл бұрын
Mine too!
@josh4404 жыл бұрын
I agree! She makes great observations
@rosygreen99442 жыл бұрын
Same
@moirageddes67234 жыл бұрын
A great japanese non-fiction book I would recommend is “In Praise of Shadows” by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki. Written in the 1930s about Japanese aesthetics and culture in comparison to western aesthetics
@seasons11463 жыл бұрын
Thank you i'll read it 💗
@myfisharmyisever-growing73934 жыл бұрын
What an exciting collection of books! Watching your channel has really broadened my sense of classic literature, so thank you. I Am A Cat sounds particularly interesting; I love the idea of examining society from such an unconventional perspective. Lovely video, as always!❤️✨
@arianes90614 жыл бұрын
You have no idea how much it means to me to hear you review and talk about Japanese literature! Thank you so much! You're amazing
@kagaminek4 жыл бұрын
Dandelions, Toddler Hunting and Other Stories, and Masks sound really interesting. also, it's great that you mention the translators every time! they're still underappreciated
@catsick944 жыл бұрын
I love the pumpkin patch growing behind you, so cute!
@TheArtisanGeek4 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much!! 🎃 ✨✨
@alisharo584 жыл бұрын
Yay! CC! We (deaf bookworms) love to see it!
@LittleBelleBliss4 жыл бұрын
Can I just say thank you so much for adding your own subtitles to your videos recently! It's really helpful, especially for book titles and authors since the auto-generated ones aren't always accurate and my hearing impairment doesn't help whatsoever ahaha
@hadia9 Жыл бұрын
love this haul! i recently finished Kokoro and was absolutely blown away by it and ever since then, I've decided to collect all of his works. So, it's great seeing someone else who felt like that 😭
@tarajones25324 жыл бұрын
FINALLY SOMEONE WHO KNOWS MASKS!!! I cannot stress enough how much I loved the book!! Fumiko Enchi is my favourite Japanese author like wow!! terroritory of light is also such a beautiful read, though I have to say I found reading Dandelions really tedious; it was a lot of dialogue and I feel like it didn't really go anywhere?
@sampriego16114 жыл бұрын
I love that you always mention the translators name :)
@kkurajam4 жыл бұрын
The Cactus prints are adorable
@inanimatecarbongod4 жыл бұрын
Botchan was the first Soseki book I read and I *really* liked it. Japanese literature (and, indeed, Asian literature in general) is a bit of a blank spot for me, I need to get a lot better acquainted with it.
@TheArtisanGeek4 жыл бұрын
Oh I love Asian literature and like literature from any place, I find that the more I read, the more I enjoy it! :)
@Fiction_Beast4 жыл бұрын
for a korean novel read, no one writes back. a wonderful novel. recently i read it for a video essay on korean literature. as for japan, i think the books suggested in this video is great, but also any book by murakami. recently i read the convenience store woman. it's great.
@jessjose36384 жыл бұрын
your bookshelf is sooo beautiful!
@kkurajam4 жыл бұрын
Oh my god I love your pumpkin plushies in your background
@nathancrocker80164 жыл бұрын
Hey Seji. Really enjoyed your book haul in this video. I used to live in Matsuyama, where Bothchan is set. I live about 40kms north of there now. Yes, "I am a Cat" is wonderful. My friend has a guinea pig named Botchan. Keep it up.
@VanillaEarlGreyinAutumn4 жыл бұрын
I’m always so happy to hear about classics from around the world that I have never heard of, thank you so much for the treasure trove of books you bring to my attention!🤗🤗🤗
@eboneD264 жыл бұрын
I learn something new every time I warch your videos. Thanks for sharing!
@selenainthegarden4 жыл бұрын
I think I found my favorite KZfaqr 🥰
@MariannaInari4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for all the lovely Japanese content ♥️
@fridajohnsen95374 жыл бұрын
The people-centered and emotionally heavy focus in these classics have me intrigued! So much interesting new books for my tbr :D Awesome video!
@monorbis_73114 жыл бұрын
Oh man I came here right after having watched the Night on the Galactic Railroad and I liked the animation film so much. Now I need to get the book. This is actually the first video of yours I was lucky enough to run into wow. Subscribing immediately
@elenathegreat4 жыл бұрын
I appreciate your videos and the way you talk about books so much! Going to add some of these to my tbr
@Maugrimm4 жыл бұрын
Oh, "No Longer Human" has been on my tbr for a while now, maybe this will finally make me read this book. Also, I really want to read "Dandelions" and "Frolic Of The Beasts". Thank you for introducing them!
@sztrumeve4 жыл бұрын
Love your reviews!!! Kisses from Argentina
@danielleroberts99104 жыл бұрын
I would never think to read Japanese literature. Thank you so much for this video I just purchased toddler hunting and other stories
@schybux6324 жыл бұрын
Big fan of Miyazawa, highly recommend. “Watch well and listen closely. Hold the learned lessons dear.”
@ciganyweaverandherperiwink62933 жыл бұрын
Why have I not heard of your channel before today?! Such a good video. Now, I'm off to your main channel to binge watch more of your videos. Toodle pip! :)
@melkol94844 жыл бұрын
Great timing! I was looking for new Japanese literature/authors to check out so this video was perfect!
@TheArtisanGeek4 жыл бұрын
So happy to hear that!! 🤗✨✨
@MaryAmongStories4 жыл бұрын
thank you for always talking about so many different books
@Sloppytiger4 жыл бұрын
Ahh I love seeing your videos pop up on my feed!!! Your so inspiring to watch and I love your thoughts on everything. Also the outfit showing off you do before is so nice like I love your clothes :)
@teresarosereads3 жыл бұрын
Your videos are always so refreshing! Sometimes it feels like I'm hearing everyone talk about the same few books but you always talk about books I've never heard of!❤️❤️
@silviagurgel57014 жыл бұрын
I love your diversety 😍😘
@TheArtisanGeek4 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much!! 🤗✨✨
@trasslaren4 жыл бұрын
The frolics of the beasts sounds like it might share some themes with the Sedish classic "Doctor Glas" by Hjalmar Söderberg, which has a similar love triangle. It has one of my favourite quotes: “People want to be loved; failing that admired; failing that feared; failing that hated and despised. They want to evoke some sort of sentiment. The soul shudders before oblivion and seeks connection at any price.”
@riverkero94254 жыл бұрын
Oh my goodness I just discovered your channel and you are the cutest person on the planet!!! I love your videos.
@Pikachugecko4 жыл бұрын
A lot of these sound pretty good. I've read Night on the Galactic Railroad. I really liked it. The movie version adds some odd extras, but gets the feeling/vibe right all along the way. That said, I've read "I am a Cat" (mentioned in the Botchan section) and hated it. If you think it's about cat antics, it's not. It's mostly a bunch of men talking, as I recall. Not for cat lovers like myself.
@meghancosgrove76374 жыл бұрын
I am currently obsessed with Japanese literature. I read The Territory of Light a couple of years ago and it has stuck with me. It was such a beautiful story. I'm reading The Memory Police at the moment and I can't wait to read more amazing books. Thanks for a great video. xx
@ria99244 жыл бұрын
You always introduce us to lesser known japanese books and you speak eloquently ❤❤❤
@TwoMiceOnMyBookshelf4 жыл бұрын
Thank you! I bought "I am Cat" many many moons ago. Always appreciate your diverse list of authors and literature!
@AnniesBookNook3 жыл бұрын
So many books to add to my TBR! Also recommend anything by Akutagawa Ryunosuke
@TheArtisanGeek3 жыл бұрын
Glad to hear it!! I have a short story collection of him at home and so far have been really enjoying it :)
@rebeccavian87614 жыл бұрын
Girl... You are so gorgeous 😘 Now I'm going back to the video, thank you for coming to my Ted talk 👏🏻
@margaritakholopova48264 жыл бұрын
Partly because of your channel I decided to diversify my reading and also I'm planning to read books of Japanese authors in the future 😻
@chasityd61684 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the video. All of these books sound quite moving. In particular, Dandelions, The Frolic of Beasts, and Toddler Hunters and Other Stories caught my interest. Perhaps also In the Shade of Spring Leaves. I'm not a huge fan of biographies as I find they can be quite dry, especially compared to autobiographies or memoirs, but the inclusion of her diary entries and short stories makes it seem like it would be quite good.
@Coolhandkelpy4 жыл бұрын
This video came at the perfect time for me! I recently realized I had read nothing from the Japanese canon, and was searching for some good places to start. I will take all these books you mentioned to heart, especially since you emphasized woman authors, and that’s always something I like to focus on. Thank you!
@walkinthewoods9814 жыл бұрын
I love that jumpsuit. So many excellent and interesting books.
@lmac38694 жыл бұрын
These all sound so good. I'll definitely be getting some of these.
@Magicme794 жыл бұрын
I have to say thank you for the storygraph recommendation. That site is fantastic and I’m completely obsessed with it. So much better than goodreads and it’s not even out of beta yet. I imported my library from goodreads, and I’m getting better recommendations than I ever got from there.
@ashtrologytv4 жыл бұрын
All of these seem so interesting.
@SlothLinn4 жыл бұрын
Botchan has been on my TBR for a good while now, but I want to read more Japanese classics, so this video was a great list of "recommendations" for me. Thank you!
@nommmmmames4 жыл бұрын
I can’t wait to see your reviews on these. 😍 My partner is obsessed w Pewdiepie who happens to be a fan of Japanese literature, so we’ve actually been meaning to buddy read a Japanese classic!
@enoughofyourbile4 жыл бұрын
Awesome video! Yukio Mishima is one of my favorite authors, if you haven’t already I definitely recommend his books in the Sea of Fertility saga. Spring Snow stays as one of the most visceral reads I have experienced!
@nonfictionfeminist4 жыл бұрын
Love the cactus outfit! Japanese books are really hit and miss for me, I'll have to try some of these out!
@alysonserenastone29174 жыл бұрын
I needed this today. I found out that I am going to be teaching Eastern History this year. :)
@kallanymendes44014 жыл бұрын
Love your Channel. From Brazil ❤️🇧🇷
@sammorgan95264 жыл бұрын
If you haven't yet, you should read The Pillow Book. It was written by Sei Shonagan (I think that's how to spell it. It's been a while since a read the book) and she's very cool and interesting.
@SereneDancer4 жыл бұрын
Love your videos 😍😍
@TheArtisanGeek4 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much!! 🤗✨✨
@AbiofPellinor4 жыл бұрын
I can't wait to see what you think of these! I really need to diversify my classics
@tokyochemist4 жыл бұрын
I hope you have a better time with Dandelions than I did. I read it last month and hated it and found it depressingly boring. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Japanese literature but I'm not a fan of Kawabata and Dandelions was a real sleeper. Territory of Light is an excellent look at single mothers in Japan but this books is excellent in portraying how being a single mother doesn't make you a saint. You mentioned that Tsushima is Dazai's daughter but you'd be interested to know that Tsushima's own daughter is currently a nominee for a literary prize as well. It runs in the family! Fumiko Enchi is an excellent author. Her The Waiting Years was also lovely.
@murakamireads4 жыл бұрын
I Am a Cat is absolutely wonderful! I hope you can pick it up soon.
@annlulu294 жыл бұрын
This video is in good timing. I was looking into classic Japanese literature just a few days ago. I have "I am a Cat" and I'm on my library's waiting list for "Memory Police" (4.5 month waiting period 😭). Thanks for recommendations.
@serafilirose66854 жыл бұрын
Wow, haven’t heard some of these mentioned since my Japanese Literature classes. 😍 Mishima-sensei’s work is always worth the time. If you can get access to the Noh play that inspired it (Motomezuka), it adds new levels to the reading. My favorite of Mishima’s work is The Sound of the Waves. I’m looking forward to your reviews of these books.
@vaishnavitripathi22664 жыл бұрын
you're like a female chidi but with the confidence to be comfortable in your own skin i'm 🥺🥺
@ChaoticBibliophile4 жыл бұрын
So many great books and that jumpsuit is adorable! I kind of want it all, haha. I need to get to Botchan since I've owned it for waaaay too long. I so want to read I am a Cat as well! I'm excited to hear your thoughts on all of these.
@juliaisagoodwitch4 жыл бұрын
All those books sound so interesting 💚💚
@heyimsasa4 жыл бұрын
thanks so much seji for a great haul~ can't wait to hear your thoughts on these!
@eliodelio56004 жыл бұрын
i'm reading a murakami novel right now which always gets me in the mood to read more japanese literature, so this video could not have come at a better time for me :D thank you for the interesting recs! i think i'll try and pick up I Am a Cat next 👀
@Kathywake234 жыл бұрын
I know its not that kind of channel, but I would love to see how you do your hair. It's so pretty and well done! 😍
@letsgetfictional47114 жыл бұрын
Definitely want to read more from Yukio Mishima. His earlier novel, The Sound of Waves, is one of my favorites! A lot of these authors are on my radar and I will be checking out your reviews in the future 😊 ~Laura
@katietatey4 жыл бұрын
I have been on a no-buy for August. I had "eyes bigger than my stomach" as my Mom would say in July. But I just finished a couple of recs that I got from you! I read Iola Leroy and Passing and really enjoyed both of those. Passing got me with a surprise ending. :) I want to read "I Am a Cat!" That sounds cool. Do you have any pets, Seji? I already have Rashomon on my list thanks to another of your videos.
@zenbrandon4 жыл бұрын
I'm definitely buying all of these! Big fan of Mishima.
@rachelsaelid60814 жыл бұрын
Have you ever read As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams? It's written by a Japanese woman from olden times and is a travel journal. It's been on my to-read list for a while.
@RaspberryDevil4 жыл бұрын
Oh, what an interesting haul! I'm not sure if I'll read some of these books, but you make me curious about them with the way you introduce them! So I'm looking forward to possible reviews :) I think I see if there are German translations available, this might help with narrowing down the list of potential reads, it's always easier to read classics in one's first language :'D
@TheArtisanGeek4 жыл бұрын
Funny enough tons of Japanese classics are translated to German (often before they are in English) so I'm pretty sure all of these have German translations as well :)
@Fiction_Beast4 жыл бұрын
botchan is my favourite from soseki. the izu dancer is a great short story, along with Akutagawa's in the grove. i am so glad i found your channel. i make similar videos, so if you have time check them out.
@Evaaugustine974 жыл бұрын
Diversité ❤️✨
@inksandtomes4 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much for the recommendations! I'm definitely going to check some of these out
@ligenlin3 жыл бұрын
You are super cool. Any chance of doing Endo (silence, deep river) in the future?? Thanks and looking forward to more japanese book reviews!
@shreyabooked93094 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video, Seji! I have had my eye on The Master of Go by Kawabata for some time now, so it'll be interesting to hear about his other works from you. I also have a request - I have lately become interested in Korean culture. Could you recommend some Korean classics if you have read any? Thanks!
@kkurajam4 жыл бұрын
Your channel is gem
@Suleiman_Bronwyn_Winifred4 жыл бұрын
I might pick up “Night on the galactic Railroad”... It looks good!
@sebastianlargsob25004 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the reviews. Toddler Hunting... sounds great. I absolutely recommend A Personal Matter, by Kenzaburo Oe.
@wonder7754 жыл бұрын
I LOVE Fumiko Enchi. The Waiting Years is my favorite. I read a few short stories by Taeko Kono for my Modern Japanese Literature course at university which were also great. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on them once you get to them :)
@TheMightyBluPepper4 жыл бұрын
Dandelions sounds really interesting, thank you for all these recommendations!
@tokyochemist4 жыл бұрын
I just read Dandelions last month and from my experience with Japanese literature, this is not a book I'd actually recommend.
@TheMightyBluPepper4 жыл бұрын
@@tokyochemist Ah ok, thanks for the heads up - I may give it a miss in that case. Would you have any recommendations in its stead?
@tokyochemist4 жыл бұрын
@@TheMightyBluPepper If you want a Japanese book that deals with an illness like this one I suggest Kenzaburo Oe's A Personal Matter. It is about Bird, who has just become the father to his first child whom he discovers has a mental deficiency that means he will be handicapped his entire life. The doctor suggests that the child be left to die and the book is about the father's reaction to these circumstances. It's a tough book that deals with the side of human nature that exists but no one wants to admit to having those kind of emotions/thoughts. It's an almost vulgar book but it's wonderfully crafted. If this doesn't sound interesting to you tell me what kind of Japanese book you'd like to read and I'm sure I can recommend something else more along what you are looking for.
@amirahn204 жыл бұрын
i like ur thumbnail!!!
@annazhou37324 жыл бұрын
have you read kusamakura by soseki as well? i’d love to hear your thoughts on it!!
@normanorourke58323 жыл бұрын
Love the outfit
@nico-et3cz4 жыл бұрын
I am a cat sounds very intriguing. also, I'm currently wearing a shirt with little cacti on it!
@michellendem4 жыл бұрын
Oh I loved Kokoko, it was such an insightful read. I think you’d like I am a Cat, it’s so funny! (I know it’s satire, but still!) I’m pretty sure the cat spent like 3 pages making fun of a poor woman’s face😂
@doodle39844 жыл бұрын
love the diversity in your books. would you ever be interested in reading indian books.
@vrixphillips4 жыл бұрын
"A little under 150 pages, so nothing you can't finish in a single sitting" wow I really must have ADD like they diagnosed me... I thought they were kidding ._. it takes me a couple days to read that much and I'm an English major xD
@zz1dane4 жыл бұрын
ur jumpsuit is so pretty
@reaganwiles_art4 жыл бұрын
Have you been to Japan? It used to be easy to get a job there teaching English. If you haven't and you can get a gig I'd highly recommend doing so. It's wonderful. I was in Hokkaido, which is in a way of speaking, a medieval place in parts yet. I mean there are, or were in 2001, still people there living an agrarian lifestyle, not many but some. Whether by choice or heredity I did not learn. I was there only three months. Many times, I have wished that I'd remained in Japan . . . . Please excuse me, I hope you do not think it too obnoxious, it seems I am full of recommendations today. When you said you were getting into love triangles, I had to think of Nabokov. One might make the claim that love triangles were his specialty: Lolita, most famously, of course, but the triangle design is washed over by the outrageous crime which is the central grotesque. Two which come blazing into mind are the searingly entertaining and monstrous "Laughter in the Dark", and the robotically Teutonic masterpiece "King, Queen, Knave", both of which were from his early Russian period. I believe that both were written while he lived in Berlin. I love talking books!
@veroreads4 жыл бұрын
I loved "I Am A Cat"! This video made me want to re-read it!
@molliesreading66294 жыл бұрын
I looove these books and your interest in Japanese literature! Excuse me if I'm behind, but have you read Hiromi Kawakami? Record of a Night Too Brief is one of my favorite books, it's very short but it has the same magical realism and dream-like setting as it sounds like Dandelions and The Memory Police do (haven't read either but I want to!)
@hennamelender4 жыл бұрын
I am a Cat is a perfect summer read !
@macarenazunino14194 жыл бұрын
You should read Out by Natsuo Kirino, I bet you'd enjoy it very much!!
@swashbucklerbooks1584 жыл бұрын
I've got Botchan on my wishlist for my Christmas book haul so this makes me happy ✌🏽 BTW have you watched the live action of Nigen Shikkaku? It's a noir-like telling of Dazai's life.
@sleepysartorialist4 жыл бұрын
These all seem very interesting! I think I would prefer to improve my Japanese enough to get copies from Kinokuniya in Japanese and slowly improve my reading comprehension (speech has always been easier for me). Have you ever heard of the book Sayonara, Gangsters? It was the first translated Japanese novel I read. It's a BONKERS thriller.